EP3758390B1

EP3758390B1 - Line array speaker

Info

Publication number: EP3758390B1
Application number: EP19188329.7A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sungpil Na; Youngnam Lee; Myeongku Kang
Original assignee: Daehong Technew Co Ltd
Current assignee: Daehong Technew Co Ltd
Priority date: 2019-06-26
Filing date: 2019-07-25
Publication date: 2022-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2039-07-25
Also published as: EP3758390A1; KR102079372B1

Description

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present disclosure relates to a line array speaker in which a plurality of speaker modules is linearly arranged, and more particularly to a line array speaker for maximizing advantages thereof using flat-panel speaker modules embedded therein.

2. Description of Related Art

A line array speaker has a great difference in structure and performance in terms of a loudspeaker sound as compared to a typical point source speaker. As the space increases in size, the use of the line array speaker may be more advantageous than the use of the typical point source speaker.
The line array speaker is a group of omni-directional radiation speaker elements. In more detail, the line array speaker may refer to a speaker device in which speaker elements are linearly arranged while being spaced apart from each other at intervals of a short distance. The line array speaker can be very effectively used to emit sound within a long distance region.
The speaker elements arranged in the line array speaker may be combined with a speaker horn formed as a separate special structure by which wavefronts of sound waves can be emitted in a plane. If a specially-structured speaker is coupled to the line array speaker, the entire speaker device may excessively increase in size and may also be complicated in structure.
Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0387458 has disclosed technology for a line array speaker horn.

CITED REFERENCES

(PATENT DOCUMENTS)

(Patent Document 0001) Korean Utility Model Registration No. 20-0387458
US 2007/263894 A1 discloses an audio loudspeaker which includes a plurality of line source transducers arranged side by side and operated utilizing Bessel coefficient such that the loudspeaker as a whole operates as a line source within a line source operating frequency range. The loudspeaker may optionally include a tweeter that operates above the Bessel coefficient frequency range, and/or a woofer that operates below the Bessel coefficient frequency range.
KR 2015 0112644 A discloses a flat speaker comprising a diaphragm, a coil plate arranged below the diaphragm and including a pair of plates separated by a predetermined interval to face each other in a lateral direction, a voice coil swirled in a space between the pair of plates, and magnetic objects arranged at the outer sides of the pair of plates, respectively.
US 2018/295451 A1 discloses a multilayer voice coil plate capable of reducing difficulties in designing and manufacturing a multilayer voice coil pattern, and a flat speaker including the same. The multilayer voice coil plate may include a first-type voice coil pattern layer formed in the shape of a track and connected from a first outer via hole outside the track to an inner via hole disposed in the track, and a second-type voice coil pattern layer formed in the shape of a track and connected from a second outer via hole outside the track to an inner via hole disposed in the track. The plurality of first-type voice coil pattern layers and the plurality of second-type voice coil pattern layers may be stacked so as to be insulated from each other, and the first outer via holes, the second outer via holes and the inner via holes may be electrically connected through interlayer conductors, respectively.
US 2017/188134 A1 discloses an apparatus comprising an enclosure which receives an array of transducers for converting electrical signals into steered audible signals. The apparatus also includes one or more structures within the enclosure defining a port having one end located within the enclosure and another end that is external to the enclosure.
The apparatus also includes an acoustic resistive element located in the one of the one or more structures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a line array speaker in which speaker modules are linearly arranged, and more particularly to a line array speaker for maximizing advantages thereof using flat-panel speaker modules embedded therein.
It is to be understood that technical objects to be achieved by the present disclosure are not limited to the aforementioned technical objects and other technical objects which are not mentioned herein will be apparent from the following description to one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present disclosure pertains.
Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a line array speaker as defined in claim 1 is provided.
The plurality of speaker modules may be arranged to extend in the first direction. The plurality of speaker modules may include a first speaker module and a second speaker module, and the first speaker module and the second speaker module are arranged in the housing in a manner that one end of the first speaker module and the other end of the second speaker module are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
The speaker modules include a first magnetic body configured to extend in the first direction, and be polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, a second magnetic body configured to extend in the first direction, be polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and be spaced apart from the first magnetic body by a predetermined distance in a manner that different poles are arranged to face each other in association with the first magnetic body, a coil plate located between the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body, and configured to have a coil pattern formed in a spiral track shape, wherein the diaphragm is configured to vibrate by connecting to the coil plate.
The diaphragm may be coupled to one edge of the coil plate arranged parallel to the first direction. A first electrode and a second electrode electrically connected to the conductive unit may be formed at the other edge of the coil plate arranged parallel to the first direction. The coil plate may include a plurality of coil formation layers each having the coil pattern. The coil plate may include the plurality of coil formation layers stacked therein in a manner that the coil patterns respectively formed in the coil formation layers overlap with each other. The coil plate may include a conductive hole that is formed at an inner side of the spiral track formed by the coil patterns so that the coil patterns formed in the coil formation layers different from each other are electrically interconnected through the conductive hole. The first electrode and the second electrode may be respectively coupled to the coil patterns formed in the different coil formation layers.
The inner end of the spiral track of a wire forming the coil patterns may be connected to a conductor inserted into the conductive hole. The outer end of the spiral track of the wire forming the coil patterns may be connected to the first electrode or the second electrode.
The conductive unit includes a first conductive cable and a second conductive cable. The speaker modules include a first terminal and a second terminal electrically connected to the coil patterns. The first terminal is electrically connected to the first conductive cable, and is formed at one position that is spaced apart in one direction from a center of a width of the speaker module. The second terminal is electrically connected to the second conductive cable, and is formed at the other position that is spaced apart in the other direction from the center of the width of the speaker module.
The first conductive cable is be located at one side of the speaker module within the housing, and the second conductive cable is be located at the other side of the speaker module within the housing.
The first terminal is formed at one end of the speaker module, and the second terminal is formed at the other end of the speaker module.
The diaphragm may be coupled to one edge of the coil plate arranged parallel to the first direction. The first electrode and the second electrode electrically connected to the coil patterns may be formed at the other edge of the coil plate arranged parallel to the first direction. The first terminal and the second terminal may be mounted to a frame to which the first magnetic body and the second magnetic body are fixed. The first electrode and the first terminal may be electrically interconnected through a first conductive wire. The second electrode and the second terminal electrode may be electrically interconnected through a second conductive wire.
The first conductive wire or the second conductive wire may include a plurality of fiber strings, and the plurality of fiber strings is formed of a fiber material and is wrapped with a conductive material. The first conductive wire or the second conductive may be formed by twisting of the plurality of fabric strings.
The first terminals of the plurality of speaker modules may be connected to the first conductive cable. The second terminals of the plurality of speaker modules may be connected to the second conductive cable.
The plurality of speaker modules may include a first speaker module and a second speaker module located adjacent to the first speaker module. The length of the first conductive unit ranging from one point where the first conductive cable is connected to the first terminal of the first speaker module to the other point where the first conductive cable is connected to the first terminal of the second speaker module may be longer than a distance from the first terminal of the first speaker module to the first terminal of the second speaker module.
The speaker module may include a frame to which the first magnetic body, the second magnetic body, and the diaphragm are fixed. A sound hole may be formed at one surface of the housing in a manner that the sound hole is arranged to face a surface of the diaphragm. The frame may be coupled to an inner surface of the housing so that the diaphragm is arranged to face the sound hole, and a vibration-absorbing pad may be inserted into a coupling surface between the housing and the frame.
The housing may be provided with a vent hole for air ventilation.
A vent cover covering the vent hole may be coupled to an inner surface of the housing. The vent cover may include a ventilation passage through which indoor air of the housing communicates with outdoor air of the housing. The inlet of the ventilation passage may be connected to the vent hole, and the outlet of the ventilation passage may be connected to an inner space of the housing. The inlet of the vent hole may be arranged not to face the outlet of the ventilation passage.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present disclosure are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other aspects, features, and advantages of the invention, as well as the following detailed description of the embodiments, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference numerals or symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.
The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description of the following aspects in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a line array speaker according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a speaker module taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1 according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 3A is a plan view illustrating one surface of a coil plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 3B is a plan view illustrating the other surface of the coil plate according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a coil plate according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.
FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the connection relationship between a conductive unit and a speaker module according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a housing according to the present disclosure.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 6 according to the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the present disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. In the drawings, the sizes, shapes, or the like of constituent components may be exaggerated for clarity and convenience of description. In addition, the terms, which are particularly defined while taking into consideration the configurations and operations of the present disclosure, may be replaced by other terms based on the intentions of users or operators, or customs. Therefore, terms used in the present specification need to be construed based on the substantial meanings of the corresponding terms and the overall matters disclosed in the present specification rather than construed as simple names of the terms.
In description of the present disclosure, it should be noted that the orientation or positional relationship indicated by the terms "center", "up", "down", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inside", "outside", "one surface", "other surface", and the like is based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings or based on the orientation or positional relationship placed when the product of the present disclosure is used. The above-mentioned orientation or positional relationships and the above terms are disclosed only for illustrative purposes, and it should be understood that the device or element of the present disclosure is not necessarily constructed or manipulated with specified orientation, and thus is not to be construed as limiting the present disclosure.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a line array speaker. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a speaker module 100 taken along the line A-A shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3A is a plan view illustrating one surface of a coil plate 140. FIG. 3B is a plan view illustrating the other surface of the coil plate 140 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 4 is a plan view illustrating a coil plate 140 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 5 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the connection relationship between a conductive unit 300 and a speaker module 100. FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a housing 200. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the housing taken along the line B-B shown in FIG. 6.
Structural and functional characteristics of the line array speaker according to the present disclosure will hereinafter be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7.
Referring to FIG. 1, the line array speaker according to the present disclosure includes a plurality of speaker modules 100, a housing 200, and a conductive unit 300. Each of the speaker modules 100 includes a diaphragm 130 which vibrates in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction and extends in the first direction. The housing 200 extends in the first direction, and includes the plurality of speaker modules 100. The conductive unit 300 supplies the same phase of electricity to the plurality of speaker modules 100, and the plurality of speaker modules 100 are disposed in the housing 200 along the first direction. The first direction is a direction in which the line array speaker extends, and is identical to an X-axis direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. The second direction is a direction in which the diaphragm 130 vibrates, is perpendicular to the first direction, and is identical to a Z-axis direction shown in FIGS. 1 to 7. In the following description, an upper direction denotes a Z-axis direction, and a lower direction denotes a direction opposite to the Z-axis direction.
In more detail, the line array speaker according to the present disclosure includes plural speaker modules 100 which extend in the first direction while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. Here, the plurality of speaker modules 100 extending in the first direction are arranged at a virtual line extending in the first direction. That is, one speaker module 100 from among the plurality of speaker modules 100 will hereinafter be referred to as a first speaker module 100a, and the other speaker module 100 located adjacent to the first speaker module 100a will hereinafter be referred to as a second speaker module 100b. In this case, one end of the first speaker module 100a and the other end of the second speaker module 100b are arranged in the housing 200 while being spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
The line array speaker according to the present disclosure uses the speaker modules configured to emit the sound source itself to line-shaped wavefronts, as a speaker driver, such that the entire device can be minimized in structure and size and sound can be effectively propagated in a wide space.
The line array speaker according to the present disclosure may be used for various purposes in various places such as an indoor space of a vehicle, a plaza, an exhibition hall, a lecture room, a concert hall, a lobby, etc. A separation distance between the speaker modules 100 may be calculated in consideration of a mainly-used sound field (frequency), effects on constructive and destructive interference between the speaker modules 100 associated with a variable such as a distance between a sound source and a listener, and other effects on other contiguous speaker modules 100 affected by vibrations of the speaker modules 100.
The line array speaker according to the present disclosure has a simple structure, such that the separation distance between the speaker modules 100 contained in the housing 200 can be easily adjusted. Accordingly, the line array speaker may adjust the separation distance between the speaker modules 100 according to use environment and conditions, so that the line array speaker can provide users with optimal sound.
Referring to FIG. 2, each of the speaker modules 100 of the line array speaker according to the present disclosure includes a first magnetic body 110, a second magnetic body 120, a coil plate 140, and a diaphragm 130. The first magnetic body 110 extends in the first direction, and is polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first direction. The second magnetic body 120 and the first magnetic body 110 are spaced apart from each other so that different poles can be arranged to face each other in association with the first magnetic body 110. The coil plate 140 is located between the first magnetic body 110 and the second magnetic body 120, and is provided with a coil pattern 141 formed in a spiral track shape. The diaphragm 130 is configured to vibrate while being coupled to the coil plate 140. Each of the speaker modules 100 may include a frame 140 to which the first magnetic body 110, the second magnetic body 120, and the diaphragm 130 are fixed.
Each of the first magnetic body 110 and the second magnetic body 120 may include a magnet for forming a magnetic field alone and at least one yoke for inducing a direction of the magnetic field emitted from the magnet. The first magnetic field 110 and the second magnetic body 120 may be spaced apart from each other in a manner that different poles are arranged to face each other, and may then be fixed to the frame 150. For example, as shown in FIG. 2, each of the first magnetic body 110 and the second magnetic body 120 may connect the magnet to the yoke so that different poles can be arranged to face each other through the yoke.
In more detail, the first magnetic body 110 may include a magnet 113 and a plurality of yokes 111. Here, the magnet 113 may be arranged in a manner that the North pole (N pole) and the South pole (S pole) of the first magnetic body 110 can be polarized in an up-and-down direction (i.e., in the second direction), and the yokes 111 may be respectively coupled to an upper end and a lower end of the magnet 113. The magnet 113 of the first magnetic body 110 and the yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110 may be formed in a linear shape extending in the first direction. The yoke 111 of the first magnetic body 110 in one direction (i.e., a Y-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction or the second direction may be larger in width than the magnet 113 arranged in the Y-axis direction. The yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110 may be coupled to the magnet 113 in a manner that the yokes 111 can protrude farther than the magnet 113 in the direction facing the yokes 121 of the second magnetic body 120. Accordingly, the magnetic field of the magnet 113 of the first magnetic body 110 may be induced in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the first direction or the second direction by the yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110.
The second magnetic body 120 may include a magnet 123 and a plurality of yokes 121. Here, the magnet 123 may be arranged in a manner that the North pole (N pole) and the South pole (S pole) of the second magnetic body 120 can be polarized in a direction opposite to the direction of the magnet 113 of the first magnetic body 110, and the yokes 121 may be respectively coupled to an upper end and a lower end of the magnet 123. The magnet 123 of the second magnetic body 120 and the yokes 121 of the second magnetic body 120 may be formed in a linear shape extending in the first direction. Each yoke 121 of the second magnetic body 120 in the Y-axis direction may also be larger in width than the magnet 123 arranged in the Y-axis direction. The yokes 121 of the second magnetic body 120 may be coupled to the magnet 123 of the second magnetic body 120 in a manner that the yokes 121of the second magnetic body 120 can protrude farther than the magnet 123 arranged in the direction facing the yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110. Accordingly, the magnetic field of the magnet 123 of the second magnetic body 120 may be induced in the direction facing the yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110 by the yokes 121 of the second magnetic body 120.
The yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110 may be respectively located at the upper end and the lower end of the magnet 113, and the yokes 121 of the second magnetic body 120 may be respectively located at the upper end and the lower end of the magnet 123. Therefore, the N pole and the S pole of the magnet 113 may be arranged to face each other in two regions. In this regard, each of the speaker modules 100 may include the coil plate 140 provided with the coil pattern 141 in which a straight region 143 is divided into two straight regions. One straight region 143a from among the two straight regions of the coil pattern 141 may be inserted into the spacing between the yokes 111 and 121 of upper ends of the first and second magnetic bodies 110 and 120, resulting in formation of a magnetic circuit. The other straight region 143b from among the two straight regions of the coil pattern 141 may be inserted into the spacing between the yokes 111 and 121 of lower ends of the first and second magnetic bodies 110 and 120, resulting in formation of a magnetic circuit. In other words, the magnetic circuits interacting with the coil pattern 141 of the coil plate 140 may be respectively constructed at the upper end and the lower end of the first and second magnetic bodies 110 and 120, so that two magnetic circuits can be formed in a single speaker module 100. The line array speaker according to the present disclosure may construct two magnetic circuits in each of the speaker modules 100, such that the coil plate 140 driving the diaphragm 130 may easily maintain the balance when the coil plate 140 driving the diaphragm 130 moves in the second direction.
Grooves may be respectively formed at edges where the yokes 111 of the first magnetic body 110 extending in the first direction are arranged to face the yokes 121 of the second magnetic body 120, and a first or second electrode 147a or 147b electrically coupled to the coil pattern 141 of the coil plate 140 may be located between the grooves. Specifically, the above-mentioned grooves may be formed at the yokes coupled to the lower ends of the magnets. More specifically, the above-mentioned grooves may be respectively formed at both ends of the yokes in the first direction.
The coil plate 140 and the diaphragm 130 may be arranged in the speaker modules 100 in a manner that the surface of the coil plate 140 is arranged parallel to each of the first direction and the second direction and the surface of the diaphragm 130 is arranged parallel to the first direction while being perpendicular to the second direction. The diaphragm 130 may be coupled to one edge that is arranged parallel to the first direction of the coil plate 140. Specifically, the coil plate 140 may be inserted between the first magnetic body 110 and the second magnetic body 120 in a manner that one edge and the other edge can protrude from the spacing between the first magnetic body 110 and the second magnetic body 120. One edge of the coil plate 140 may protrude upward so that the one edge may be coupled to the diaphragm 130. The other edge of the coil plate 140 may protrude downward so that the other edge may be coupled to the first electrode 147a and the second electrode 147b. One edge of the coil plate 140 may be coupled to the center of the Y-axis directional width of the diaphragm 130.
The diaphragm 130 may be made of a honeycomb plate formed of a honeycomb material, and may have a light weight and a high bending stress. The diaphragm 130 formed of a honeycomb material may be beneficial in terms of sound linearity. A flexible fixing means 131 formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material may be connected to the edge of the diaphragm 130, so that the diaphragm 130 can be fixed to the frame 150. The flexible fixing means 131 may be provided with a main convex portion 131a. The main convex portion 131a may be formed along the edge of the diaphragm 130 in the second direction of the flexible fixing means 131. The main convex portion 131a may be provided with a plurality of auxiliary convex portions. The main convex portion 131a and the auxiliary convex portions may weaken stress of the flexible fixing means 131, so that the diaphragm 130 can smoothly perform repeated rectilinear movement in the second direction.
The coil pattern 141 may be printed on the coil plate 140 so that the coil pattern1 141 can be formed at the coil plate 140.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, each coil plate 140 of the plurality of speaker modules 100 is provided with the coil pattern 141. The coil pattern 141 may receive a current as an input, and may thus construct the first magnetic body 110, the second magnetic body 120, and magnetic circuits. The coil pattern 141 may include a straight region 143 in which the wire forming the coil pattern 141 extends in the first direction and a curved region 144 in which the wire is curved at the end of the straight region 143. The coil pattern 141 is formed in a spiral track shape at the coil plate 140, and may be formed in a coil shape that is wound on the coil plate 140 using the Y-axis direction as a rotation axis. The straight region 143 in which the wire of the coil pattern 141 linearly extending in the first direction is printed may be divided into two straight regions with respect to the second-directional width of the coil plate 140. In this case, one straight region from among the two straight regions will hereinafter be referred to as a first straight region 143a and the other straight region from among the two straight regions will hereinafter be referred to as a second straight region 143b for convenience of description and better understanding of the present disclosure. In this case, a stress concentration portion 146 may be formed between the first straight region 143a and the second straight region 143b. In more detail, the coil plate 140 may be provided with the stress concentration portion 146 extending parallel to the extension direction of the straight region 143.
The stress concentration portion 146 may be formed in a hole or groove shape. The stress concentration portion 146 may be formed in a single long groove or a single long hole as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. The stress concentration portion 146 may be formed in a plurality of grooves or a plurality of holes as shown in FIG. 4. The line array speaker according to the present disclosure may form the stress concentration portion 146 corresponding to a weak line at the center of the coil plate 140 in the first direction. As a result, the coil plate 140 can be prevented from being curved in the first direction even when unexpected impact is applied to the entire speaker device,
The coil plate 140 may include a plurality of coil formation layers 142 each having the coil pattern 141. The plurality of coil formation layers 142 may be stacked in the coil plate 140 in a manner that the coil patterns 141 respectively formed in the coil formation layers 142 overlap with each other. In addition, the coil plate 140 may include a conductive hole 145 that is formed at the inside of the spiral track and electrically interconnects the respective coil patterns 141 formed in different coil formation layers 142. If the end of the wire of one coil pattern 141 connected to the conductive hole 145 is formed to extend from the wire of the first straight region 143a, the end of the wire connected to the conductive hole 145 in the other coil pattern 141 may be formed to extend from the wire of the second straight region 143b. As described above, the coil patterns 141 of the respective layers are connected to the conductive hole 145, such that the total amount of electron movement in the straight region 143 may be amplified by stacking of the coil patterns 141 of the respective layers.
Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, the first electrode 147a and the second electrode 147b electrically connected to the conductive unit 300 may be formed at other edges of the coil plate 140 arranged parallel to the first direction. The first electrode 147a and the second electrode 147b may be coupled to the coil patterns 141 formed in different coil formation layers 142. Since the coil is spirally wound on the coil plate 140, one end of the coil wire may be located at the outside of the spiral track and the other end of the coil wire may be located at the inside of the spiral track. The line array speaker according to the present disclosure may include the coil plate 140 provided with multilayered coil patterns 141, so that the inner wire of the spiral track can be prevented from extending across the wires of the coil patterns 141 when an external power source is connected to one or more electrodes of the coil plate. In other words, the inner end of the spiral track of the wires forming the coil patterns 141 may be connected to a conductor inserted into the conductive hole 145, and the outer end of the spiral track of the wires forming the coil patterns 141 may be connected to the first electrode 147a or the second electrode 147b. The first electrode 147a and the second electrode 147b may be spaced apart from each other in the first direction, so that the first electrode 147a and the second electrode 147b can be prevented from being short-circuited.
Referring to FIG. 5, the conductive unit 300 includes a first conductive cable 310 and a second conductive cable 320. The first conductive cable 310 is located at one side of the speaker module 100 within the housing 200, and the second conductive cable 320 is located at the other side of the plurality of speaker modules 100 within the housing 200. The first conductive cable 310 and the second conductive 320 may be located in the housing 200 while being packaged with a cushion member 330. Specifically, the first conductive cable 310 and the second conductive cable 320 may be respectively located at both sides of the speaker module 100 in the Y-axis direction, such that vibrations of the speaker module 100 can be prevented from being transferred to the bottom surface of the housing 200 through the first conductive cable 310 or the second conductive cable 320.
Each of the speaker modules 100 includes first and second terminals 151a and 151b electrically connected to the coil patterns 141. Each first terminal 151a is electrically connected to the first conductive cable 310, and is formed at one position that is spaced apart in one direction from the center of the Y-axis directional width of the speaker module 100. Each second terminal 151b is electrically connected to the second conductive cable 320, and is formed at the other position that is spaced apart in the other direction from the center of the width of the speaker module 100. More specifically, the first terminal 151a may be formed at one end of the speaker module 100, and the second terminal 151b may be formed at the other end of the speaker module 100.
The line array speaker according to the present disclosure respectively arranges the first conductive cable 310 and the second conductive cable 320 at both sides of the speaker module 100 in a manner that the first conductive cable 310 is located at one side of the speaker module 100 and the second conductive cable 320 is located at the other side of the speaker module 100, and then maximizes a separation distance between the first terminal 151a connected to the first conductive cable 310 and the second terminal 151b connected to the second conductive cable 320, resulting in prevention of short-circuiting.
The first terminal 151a and the second terminal 151b may be mounted to the frame 150. In more detail, the first terminal 151a and the second terminal 151b may be located at a lower part of the speaker module 100, such that the first and second terminals 151a and 151b can be prevented from interfering with movement of the diaphragm 130. The first electrode 147a and the first terminal 151a may be electrically connected to the first conductive wire 153a. The second electrode 147b and the second terminal 151b may be electrically connected to the second conductive wire.
The first conductive wire 153a or the second conductive wire may include a plurality of fiber strings (formed of a fiber material) wrapped with a conductive material. The fiber strings may be formed of a meta-aramid fiber material, for example, a Conex fiber material. One end of each of the first conductive wire 153a and the second conductive wire may be connected to the coil plate 140 persistently moving, and the other end of each of the first and second conductive wires 153a may be connected to the first terminal 151a and the second terminal 151b fixed to the frame 150 corresponding to a fixed object. Therefore, the first conductive wire 153a and the second conductive wire may be persistently deformed in shape. Since the fiber strings wrapped with the conductive material in the first conductive wire 153a and the second conductive wire are used as the electric wires, resistance in shape deformation is greatly reduced, so that movement of the diaphragm 130 is not affected and short-circuiting may not easily occur. In addition, vibrations of the coil plate 140 can be prevented from being transferred to the frame 150 through the first conductive wire 153a and the second conductive wire. In other words, each of the first conductive wire 153a and the second conductive wire may be used as the electric wire that has superior abrasion strength, superior bending strength, superior robustness, low flexural rigidity, and low torsional rigidity. The conductive material formed to surround the fiber strings may not react to magnetic fields generated from the first magnetic body 110 and the second magnetic body 120. For example, a representative example of the conductive material may be copper (Cu).
Abrasion strength (abrasion lifetime) may denote the ability of the electric wire to withstand repeated friction with a constant load on the electric wire. Abrasion strength may be designated by the number of frictions of the electric wire to be cut (or severed) by repeated frictional force.
Assuming that force through which the electric wire is first folded and then unfolded is repeatedly applied to the electric wire, the bending strength may denote how many times the above force is applied to the electric wire until the folded part of the electric wire is severed or cut. The above-mentioned bending strength may also be referred to as a fatigue lifetime, and measurement of such bending strength may be achieved by repeatedly supplying the electric wire with force by which the linear electric wire is folded at a right angle.
Robustness may be a term indicating mechanical durability of the electric wire, and may denote energy consumed until the electric wire is cut. If elongation of the certain electric wire is large so that the electric wire is easily elongated in length, the electric wire may be considered high in strength.
Flexural rigidity may denote force needed to bend the electric wire. Torsional rigidity may denote force needed to bend the electric wire at a right angle. That is, torsional rigidity may refer to force needed to twist the electric wire.
The first conductive wire 153a or the second conductive wire may be formed by twisting of the plurality of fiber strings. Since the first conductive wire 153a or the second conductive wire is formed by twisting of the plurality of fiber strings, electrical connection can be maintained even when some parts of the fiber strings constructing the first conductive wire 153a or the second conductive wire are short-circuited.
The first terminals 151a of the plurality of speaker modules 100 are connected to the first conductive cable 310, and the second terminals 151b of the plurality of speaker modules 100 are connected to the second conductive cable 320. That is, the speaker modules 100 are electrically connected in parallel to the conductive unit 300. Connection between the first conductive cable 310 and the first terminal 151a may be achieved through soldering or in a lug type. The plurality of speaker modules 100 may be electrically connected in parallel to each other, such that the speaker modules 100 may emit sound waves having the same phase upon receiving electrical signals having the same phase.
A length of the first conductive unit 300 ranging from one point where the first conductive cable 310 is connected to the first terminal 151a of the first speaker module 100a to the other point where the first conductive cable 310 is connected to the first terminal 151a of the second speaker module 100b is longer than a distance from the first terminal 151a of the first speaker module 100a to the first terminal 151a of the second speaker module 100b.
Since the first conductive cable 310 or the second conductive cable 320 has a sufficiently long length, tension occurs in the first conductive cable 310 or the second conductive cable 320, so that vibrations of the speaker modules 100 can be prevented from interfering with each other, and occurrence of user inconvenience that the user who desires to adjust the distance between the speaker modules 100 has to reconnect the wires to the speaker modules 100 can also be prevented.
A sound hole (or acoustic hole) 210 located to face the surface of the diaphragm 130 may be formed at one surface of the housing 200, the frame 150 may be coupled to the inner surface of the housing 200 in a manner that the diaphragm 130 can be arranged to face the sound hole 210, and a vibration-absorbing pad may be inserted into a coupling surface between the housing 200 and the frame 150.
The line array speaker according to the present disclosure may arrange a vibration absorption material such as a vibration-absorbing pad or a cushion member 330 at the principal coupling positions of constituent components, such that vibrations of the speaker modules 100 can be prevented from interfering with each other. Such vibrations may be propagated at different speeds according to a medium, a distance, etc. Various kinds of constituent components having different rigidities may be coupled to the plurality of speaker modules 100, and the plurality of speaker modules 100 may be located at different positions, such that interference of vibrations generated from several speakers may affect sound quality. Therefore, it can be very important to prevent such vibration interference in advance.
The speaker modules 100 may be fixedly installed in the housing 200 in a manner that an inlet of the sound hole 210 formed at the outer surface of the housing 200 may be spaced apart from the surface of the diaphragm 130 by a predetermined distance. Here, the predetermined distance may be set to 1mm to 4mm. The sound hole 210 having a predetermined depth has the same effect as a horn, such that sound can be slightly amplified through the sound hole 210.
Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7, the housing 200 may be provided with a vent hole 200 for air ventilation. If indoor air of the housing 200 vibrates, such vibration may affect low-frequency sound. The line array speaker according to the present disclosure may include the vent hole 200 through which indoor air of the housing 200 communicates with outdoor air of the housing 200, such that the line array speaker can reinforce the low-frequency sound by controlling the air that affects rear-surface sound of the speakers.
A vent cover 230 covering the vent hole 220 may be coupled to the inner surface of the housing 200. The vent cover 230 may include a ventilation passage 233 through which indoor air of the housing 200 can communicate with outdoor air of the housing 200. An inlet of the ventilation passage 233 may be connected to the vent hole 220, an outlet 231 of the ventilation passage 233 may be connected to the inner space of the housing 200, and the inlet of the vent hole 220 may not face the outlet 231 of the ventilation passage 233. That is, the direction of air flowing into the vent hole 220 may be changed by the vent cover 230, such that the direction of air flowing into or out of the housing 200 can be controlled by the vent cover 230.
As is apparent from the above description, the line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may use speaker modules configured to emit a sound source to line-shaped wavefronts, such that the entire speaker device can be minimized in size and structure and can enable the sound to be effectively propagated in a wide space.
Since the line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure has a simple structure, the line array speaker can easily adjust a separation distance between speaker modules embedded in the housing. Accordingly, the line array speaker can provide users with optimal sound by adjusting a separation distance between speaker modules according to use environment and conditions.
The line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure includes two magnetic circuits in a single speaker module, such that the line array speaker can easily keep the balance when a coil plate configured to drive a diaphragm moves in a second direction.
The line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may form a stress concentration part corresponding to a weak line at the center of the coil plate in a first direction, such that the coil plate can be prevented from being curved in the first direction even when unexpected impact is applied to the entire speaker device.
The line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may construct a coil plate provided with multilayered coil patterns, so that the inner wire of a spiral track can be prevented from extending across the wires of the coil patterns when an external power source is connected to one or more electrodes of the coil plate. The line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may respectively arrange a first conductive cable and a second conductive cable at both sides of the speaker module in a manner that the first conductive cable is located at one side of the speaker module and the second conductive cable is located at the other side of the speaker module, and may then maximize a separation distance between a first terminal connected to the first conductive cable and a second terminal connected to the second conductive cable, resulting in prevention of short-circuiting.
The line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may arrange a vibration-absorbing material such as a vibration-absorbing pad or a cushion member at the main coupling position of constituent components, such that vibrations generated from the speaker modules can be prevented from interfering with each other.
The line array speaker according to the embodiments of the present disclosure may form a vent hole through which the inside of the housing communicates with the outside of the housing, such that the line array speaker can reinforce a low-band sound by controlling the air that affects a rear-surface sound of the speaker.

Claims

A line array speaker comprising:
a plurality of speaker modules, wherein each of the speaker modules (100) comprises a diaphragm (130) that vibrates in a second direction perpendicular to a first direction and extends in the first direction;

a housing (200) extending in the first direction while including the plurality of speaker modules;

a conductive unit (300) configured to supply electricity having a substantially identical phase to the plurality of speaker modules,

wherein the plurality of speaker modules is arranged in the housing (200) in the first direction;

wherein each of the speaker modules (100) further comprises the following components:
- a first magnetic body (110) configured to extend in the first direction, and be polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first direction;

- a second magnetic body (120) configured to extend in the first direction, be polarized in a direction perpendicular to the first direction, and be spaced apart from the first magnetic body (110) by a predetermined distance in a manner that different poles are arranged to face each other in association with the first magnetic body (110);

- a coil plate (140) located between the first magnetic body (110) and the second magnetic body (120), and configured to have a coil pattern (141) formed in a spiral track shape;

wherein each diaphragm (130) is configured to vibrate by connecting to the coil plate (140);

the conductive unit (300) includes a first conductive cable (310) and a second conductive cable (320); and

each of the speaker modules (100) includes a first terminal (151a) and a second terminal (151b) electrically connected to the coil patterns (141),

wherein each first terminal (151a) is electrically connected to the first conductive cable (310), and is formed at one position that is spaced apart in one direction from a center of a width of the speaker module (100);

wherein each second terminal (151b) is electrically connected to the second conductive cable (320), and is formed at the other position that is spaced apart in the other direction from the center of the width of the speaker module (100);

wherein the first conductive cable (310) is located at one side of the plurality of speaker modules (100) within the housing (200); and

wherein the second conductive cable (320) is located at the other side of the plurality of speaker modules (100) within the housing (200).
The line array speaker according to claim 1, wherein:
the plurality of speaker modules (100) is arranged to extend in the first direction; and

the plurality of speaker modules (100) includes a first speaker module (100a) and a second speaker module (100b), and the first speaker module (100a) and the second speaker module (100b) are arranged in the housing (200) in a manner that one end of the first speaker module (100a) and the other end of the second speaker module (100b) are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.
The line array speaker according to claim 1, wherein:
in each speaker module (100) the diaphragm (130) is coupled to one edge of the coil plate (140) arranged parallel to the first direction;

in each speaker module (100) a first electrode (147a) and a second electrode (147b) electrically connected to the conductive unit (300) are formed at the other edge of the coil plate (140) arranged parallel to the first direction;

the coil plate (140) of each speaker module (100) includes a plurality of coil formation layers (142) each having the coil pattern (141);

the coil plate (140) of each speaker module (100) includes the plurality of coil formation layers (142) stacked therein in a manner that the coil patterns (141) respectively formed in the coil formation layers (142) overlap with each other;

the coil plate (140) of each speaker module (100) includes a conductive hole (145) that is formed at an inner side of the spiral track formed by the coil patterns (141) so that the coil patterns (141) formed in the coil formation layers (142) different from each other are electrically interconnected through the conductive hole (145); and

in each speaker module (100) the first electrode (147a) and the second electrode (147b) are respectively coupled to the coil patterns (141) formed in the different coil formation layers (142).
The line array speaker according to claim 3, wherein:
an inner end of the spiral track of a wire forming the coil patterns (141) is connected to a conductor inserted into the conductive hole (145); and

an outer end of the spiral track of the wire forming the coil patterns is connected to the first electrode (147a) or the second electrode (147b).
The line array speaker according to claim 1, wherein:
the first terminal (151a) of each speaker module (100) is formed at one end of each speaker module (100), and the second terminal (151b) of each speaker module (100) is formed at the other end of each speaker module (100).
The line array speaker according to claim 1, wherein:
in each speaker module (100) the diaphragm (130) is coupled to one edge of the coil plate (140) arranged parallel to the first direction;

in each speaker module (100) the first electrode (147a) and the second electrode (147b) electrically connected to the coil patterns (141) are formed at the other edge of the coil plate (140) arranged parallel to the first direction;

in each speaker module (100) the first terminal (151a) and the second terminal (151b) are mounted to a frame (150) to which the first magnetic body (110) and the second magnetic body (120) are fixed;

in each speaker module (100) the first electrode (147a) and the first terminal (151a) are electrically interconnected through a first conductive wire (153a); and

in each speaker module (100) the second electrode (147b) and the second terminal (151b) are electrically interconnected through a second conductive wire.
The line array speaker according to claim 6, wherein:
in each speaker module (100) the first conductive wire (153a) or the second conductive wire includes a plurality of fiber strings, and the plurality of fiber strings is formed of a fiber material and is wrapped with a conductive material; and

in each speaker module (100) the first conductive wire (153a) or the second conductive is formed by twisting of the plurality of fabric strings.
The line array speaker according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of speaker modules (100) includes a first speaker module (100a) and a second speaker module (100b) located adjacent to the first speaker module (100a),
wherein a length of the first conductive unit ranging from one point where the first conductive cable (310) is connected to the first terminal (151a) of the first speaker module (100a) to the other point where the first conductive cable (310) is connected to the first terminal (151a) of the second speaker module (100b) is longer than a distance from the first terminal (151a) of the first speaker module (100a) to the first terminal (151a) of the second speaker module (100b).
The line array speaker according to claim 1, wherein:
each speaker module (100) includes a frame (150) to which the first magnetic body (110), the second magnetic body (120), and the diaphragm (130) are fixed; and

a sound hole (210) is formed at one surface of the housing(200) and is arranged to face a surface of the diaphragm (130) of each speaker module (100),

wherein the frame (150) of each speaker module (100) is coupled to an inner surface of the housing (200) so that the diaphragm (130) of each speaker module (100) is arranged to face the sound hole (210), and a vibration-absorbing pad is inserted into a coupling surface between the housing (200) and the frame (150) of each speaker module (100).
The line array speaker according to claim 9, wherein the housing (200) is provided with a vent hole (220) for air ventilation.
The line array speaker according to claim 10, wherein:
a vent cover (230) covering the vent hole (220) is coupled to an inner surface of the housing (200),

wherein the vent cover (230) includes a ventilation passage (233) through which indoor air of the housing (200) communicates with outdoor air of the housing (200),

an inlet of the ventilation passage (233) is connected to the vent hole (220), and an outlet of the ventilation passage (233) is connected to an inner space of the housing (200), and

an inlet of the vent hole (220) is arranged not to face the outlet of the ventilation passage (233).